Our 14 Favorite Holiday Gifts for Parents, Including Unique Picks for New Moms and Dads.

As the year winds to a close, thoughts inevitably shift towards the challenge of selecting the ideal gifts for your parents. Every year, the task seems more daunting. And yet, your goal remains unchanged - to find something truly special and useful that your parents will appreciate.

Fear not! We’ve crafted a list of our favorite gifts for parents of any age. Whether they’re cooking enthusiasts, avid travelers, or tech-enthusiasts, our list includes great gifts that encapsulate any interest at a variety of different prices and preferences. Our handpicked selection of gift ideas promises not just to tick the boxes, but hit the right note this holiday season.

Discover family stories

For many families, the ritual of storytelling reminds us of our ties to one another. Remento makes it easier than ever to better understand and more deeply appreciate your family story through recorded conversations with a family member. The Remento iOS mobile app recommends conversation prompts crafted by professional storytellers, neuroscientists, and memory researchers designed to uncover precious memories of a loved one’s past. Once recorded, stories from these sessions are showcased directly in a private Remento library, from where they can be easily shared without any fancy editing or processing. Whether it's reflections on monumental moments or the joys of everyday life, Remento helps break down barriers across generations, breed connection through curiosity, and remind us that understanding our own story starts by listening to the stories of others.

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Make video calls easier

Google Nest Hub Max ($100)

Amazon Echo Show 8 ($130)

Intelligent display devices like the Google Nest and Amazon Echo make make video conferencing with a loved one a breeze! They both feature an effortlessly manageable remote setup, perfect for those who may struggle with digital devices. Moreover, these intelligent  enable uncomplicated and instinctive video communications with several family members. Plus, these devices also come with other numerous functionalities, like as organizing your schedules, narrating cooking directions, playing radio stations, and managing smart appliances within your household.

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Share photos from anywhere

Aura Frame ($149)

An electronic photo display such as the Aura Frame gives you the simplicity and immediacy of sharing your cherished images with kinfolks globally. The Aura Frame provides a user-friendly experience in both setup and operation, catering to family members who might not be adept at handling technology. Uploading pictures is a breeze; download the application, synchronize your phone with the frame, and link to a Wi-Fi connection. This digital frame also boasts a gift feature, enabling you to load it with pictures for the recipient through the user-friendly, complimentary Aura application.

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Ditch Monopoly

Codenames $(12)

Codenames stands out as one of our team’s favorite board games, suitable for a wide range of ages. It's a team-based, interactive word-guessing game that is simple to learn, which means less time spent on rule-explanations and more on engaging play. It also happens to be an ideal multigenerational game, equally enjoyable for grandparents as for kids (recommended for ages 14 and up). It can be tailored to themes like books, movies, or songs that little ones relate to and it’s absolutely cost-free!

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Find your roots

AncestryDNA ($100)

The exploration of family history is a beautiful thing. Our favorite choice for the DNA testing is AncestryDNA. it features straightforward results, a user-friendly interface, and an extensive DNA database.

For those wanting a deeper dive into their genetic history FamilyTreeDNA offers a more comprehensive breakdown of your ancestral lines. Or, go the traditional route and contract a professional genealogist to excavate your family's past.

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Get your puzzle on

Shutterfly Photo Gallery Puzzle ($33)

A personalized puzzle featuring a beloved family photo makes for a delightful and sentimental gift. Capturing a cherished family moment, the custom jigsaw puzzle from Shutterfly not only offers the pleasure of assembling the pieces, but also allows the puzzler to relive those precious memories. Whether it's a picture from a recent family vacation, a holiday celebration, or simply a candid everyday moment, converting it into a puzzle brings a unique, hands-on dimension to reminiscing. And once completed, these puzzles can be framed and displayed as a special piece of familial art.

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Bring new life to old photos

‍Legacy Box (10 Items) ($140)

Memories can last forever, but not the medium they are stored on. Videotapes can hold your precious home movies for several years if they are kept in a cool and dry environment. However, these formats deteriorate over time, making the tapes unwatchable. The good news is that preserving these memories is not as daunting as you might think. You can convert the tapes yourself or use a service to digitize the various formats you have stored, such as 8mm or 16mm film reels, super 8 and H8 movie film, MiniDV cassettes, and Betacam, Betamax, and VHS tapes. Services like LegacyBox can take care of the process for you, or consider searching for a local service to avoid shipping your content.

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Showcase a family picture

Framebridge ($85)

Framing a family photo is a thoughtful way to show your dad how much you appreciate him. Not only will it add an eye-catching addition to his home or office, but it’s also a reminder of the memories reflected in the image. Father's Day is a time to recognize dad for all of the amazing things he has done throughout your life, and a framed photo is an ideal way to display that appreciation. Companies like Framebridge make this delightfully simple. And if you want to upload a photo but don't have a digital copy, consider using this handy tool on your smartphone.

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Get out of this world

Sparkling Star Register ($34)

Why not add a little twinkle to your dad's life this Father's Day? With a simple purchase, you can give him the gift of a star. We all know that the heavens are a dad's true domain, right? :-) With a star, you can give him an additional part of space to call his own. After making the purchase, you can personalize your star's name, coordinates, and even constellation. These details can be immortalized on a map of the night sky. Give your dad "the most heavenly gift" this Father's Day!

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Turn their kitchen into a garden

‍AeroGarden ($80)

Cultivate all year long. With an AeroGarden, they can grow fresh herbs, veggies, salad greens, blossoms, and more with this vibrant countertop garden. Its attractive sage finish adds a charming touch to your countertop decor. This DIY growing kit is equipped with an introductory assortment of herb seeds, offering your parents both an enjoyable activity and a year-round supply of fresh flavoring for their meals, making it an ideal present for those with a fondness for gardening.

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Lose their knack for losing things

AirTag 40Pack ($100)

An Apple AirTag is the best affordable, useful Apple gift - an easy way to keep track of your stuff. They can attach one to their keys, put another in your backpack, and even put one in thier car. And just like that, they’re findable right from their iPhone. With Find My Network support, an AirTag can be found if a compatible Apple device passes next to it. So it has better coverage than rivals, such as Tile. AirTags can be used to find anything and everything you might lose — except for your happiness, maybe. However, it will definitely bring warmth to the heart of whomever you gift it to during this jolly holiday.

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Give the the gift of clean

iRobot Roomba 694 ($250)

A robot vacuum that can quickly clean up small messes around the house is a great way to give the gift of cleanliness (without any strings attached). The Roomba 694 takes vacuuming off your mind with personalized cleaning suggestions powered by the unique intelligence of IRobot OS. The 3-Stage Cleaning system lifts dirt, dust and debris from carpets and hard floors while an Edge-Sweeping brush takes care of corners and edges. Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head automatically adapts its height to effectively clean carpets & hard floors.

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Good eating

A gift card to a local restaurant

Consider an experience as a perfect way to shake things up this year. Plan a date night at a favorite comfort spot or a new restaurant they've been eager to try. Just search Google to find a great spot near where they live and give the restaurant a call. Many restaurants will be willing to mail you a gift card, which of course makes the gift giving experience a bit sweeter.

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A night (or two) away

Hotels.com Gift Card

Being a parent is a wonderful journey, but it can also be overwhelming and exhausting to keep up with the demands of parenting. Every parent deserves a break once in a while in order to relax and recharge. One great way to do this is by taking a one or two-night stay at a nice hotel. A hotel stay can provide a much-needed change of scenery and a chance to unwind from the stresses of daily life. We've used Hotels.com to find hotel rooms close to home.